In a short time she saw Jhore emerge from the dunghill, in which he resided, and loose the calves, and take them to the water. When he brought them back he cleaned and swept their stall, and then re-entered the dunghill. In the evening the others enquired, “Well, did you see him?” The old buffaloe cow replied, “Yes, I saw him, but I will not tell you, for you will kill him.” They pressed her, but she refused, saying, “You will kill him.” They said, “Why should we kill him who takes so much care of our young ones?” The old buffaloe cow led them to the dunghill, and said, “He is in here.” So they called to him to come out, which he did, and when they saw him they were all greatly pleased, so much so that they there and then hired him to continue to do the work he had been doing so well. They arranged also to give him a regular daily supply of milk, so he was duly installed by the herd of wild buffaloes as care-taker of their calves.
Long after this, he one day took his calves to the river and after he had bathed them he said to the buffaloe calves, “Wait for me till I also bathe.” They replied, “Bathe, we will graze close by.” He having performed his ablutions sat down on the river bank to comb and dress his hair, which was twelve cubits long. In combing his tangled tresses a quantity was wrenched out, this he wrapped up in a leaf and threw into the stream. It was carried by the current a great distance down to where a raja’s daughter and her companions were bathing. The raja’s daughter saw the leaf floating towards her, and ordered one of her attendants to bring it to her. When the leaf was opened it was found to contain hair twelve cubits in length. Immediately after measuring the hair the raja’s daughter complained of fever, and hasted home to her couch. The raja being informed of his daughter’s illness sent for the most skilled physicians, who prescribed all the remedies their pharmacopœia contained, but failed to afford the sufferer any relief. The grief of the raja was therefore intense.
Then his daughter said to him, “Oh! father, I have one word to say to you. If you do as I wish, I shall recover.” The raja replied, “Tell me what it is, I shall do my best to please you.” So she said, “If you find me one with hair twelve cubits long and bring him to me, I shall rally at once.” The raja said, “It is well.”
The raja caused diligent search to be made for the person with hair twelve cubits long. He said to a certain jugi, “You traverse the country far and near, find me the man with hair twelve cubits long.” The jugi enquired everywhere, but could obtain no intelligence concerning him.
They then made up a parcel of flour and gave it to a crow, whom they sent to try and find him. The crow flew caw cawing all over the district, but returned at last and reported failure, saying, “there is not such a man in the world.”
After this they again made up a small parcel of flour, and giving it to a tame paroquet, said, “Find a man with hair twelve cubits long.” The paroquet, having received his orders, flew away screeching, and mounting high up into the sky, directed his course straight for the unexplored forest. In the meantime the dunghill in which Jhore resided had become a palace.
The paroquet alighted on a tree near Jhore’s palace, and began to whistle. On hearing the unusual sound Jhore came out and saw the paroquet who was speaking and whistling. The paroquet also eyed him narrowly, and was delighted to see his hair trailing on the ground. By this he knew that he had found the object of his search, and with a scream of delight, he flew away to communicate the tidings to the raja.
The raja was overjoyed with his messenger’s report, and ordered the bariat to set out immediately. In a short time they were on their way accompanied by elephants, horses, drums, and fifes. On reaching Jhore’s palace they were about to enter for the purpose of seizing him, when he exclaimed, “Do not pass my threshold.” They replied, “We will carry you away with us.” He said, “Do not come near.” “We will certainly carry you away,” they replied. Jhore then ran into his house, and seizing his flute mounted to the roof, and began to play. As the notes of the flute resounded through the forest it seemed to say,
A staff of Pader[1] wood
A flute of Erandom[2]